Winter Changes

Welcome back, everyone!

Modeling Scott's (literal) birthday suit

...And welcome home to me! After three months of travel, Mr. Yates and I are finally back from our first major jaunt together across the country - no small feat! After flying from California (where it finally stopped raining) back to the Frozen Northlands (where it hasn't stopped snowing), we're enjoying some quiet catch-up time with the godkids & company, as I've christened our adopted clan.
Today was a good day for it, too. It was so cold - 24 degrees below zero - that the girls had the day off from school because the school buses couldn't start. Seriously. Needless to say, they were completely heart-broken. :) As for me, I experienced not a one of the usual Vermont urges to put off my writing and go outside to play, and so was remarkably productive. In fact, the only procrastinating I did was to avoid going outside, where we have yet to finish pushing my car out of the snow-bank it was buried in. I didn't mind the wait. It's already taken us two days just to dig a path for it, and I'd rather be covered in kids than ice.

Speaking of the not-so-wee ones, today's gem of a kid comment came from Ms. S, who was listening to one of her sisters and their other nanny talking about foreign phrases they enjoy.
"Ooh, schadenfreude," suggested the nanny. "One of my favorite German words!"
"That's German?" Ms. S wrinkled her nose.
"Sure it is!" Her sister was all too pleased to explain. "It means taking pleasure from someone else's pain."
"I'll have to remember that," murmered Ms. S thoughtfully, and turned away. As she walked by, I heard her repeating her new phrase softly to herself:
"Shot in Florida, Shot in Florida, Shot in Florida..."

This one almost tops one of her younger sister's comments the other day while actually in Florida, where she was vacationing with her moms.
"Why is the water so much warmer here than it is up North?" quizzed her mom, who never misses an opportunity for homeschooling. "They're both part of the Atlantic."
"Mo-om," replied Madame H incredulously, in that particular way she has. "We learned this already. It's because it's closer to Ecuador. Duhh!"
While technically right...

In other (less hilarious) news, I've finally come up with my New Year's resolutions: enroll in aromatherapy school (and thus, stay in one place long enough to help the kids and plants grow), pay off some debts, and actually use some of those products I'm always giving away and selling - now that's a novel idea, huh? Physician, heal thyself (or at least pamper the bejeezus out of thy skin)!

Speaking of herbs, the blog is finally back in action with a few new pages (hooray!), and I'd love any feedback on the new layout. Okee-dokie, pokies - time for this blackbird's daughter to hit the nest. 

Sweet dreams,

Jessica

Never Measure Anything If You Can Help It

It's true. If you were to make a recipe of my life, it would consist of those eight words.

Herbapalooza!! - an Herbal Evenings Party in PA (photo by Scott P Yates)

I say that because the lovely Danica Zirkle (above, in green hat), recently asked me to share a few "recipes" from a recent Herbal Evenings Party with her friends - so here they are! Happy holidays, D - MUAH!!

I put "recipes" in quotes for a few reasons. First, the whole point of playing with herbs is to PLAY with them, and for these simple and safe blends, the only way you can do it wrong is by worrying that you're doing it wrong.

Second, I don't like following directions, so I see no reason to make them up for anyone else. One of my favorite pastimes is reading cookbooks and how-to books, but I don't view them as rules so much as success stories. So while I do take careful notes of my experiments and custom blends, I rarely follow them to a T - and neither should you! Having said that, essential oils are very concentrated, and a little goes a long way, especially when using them on skin.

Beloveds, life is open to interpretation. These are notes, and you're welcome to change them or follow them as you see fit. If you have questions, feel free to call me at (802) 578-7931. I'm happy to help!

Facial Scrubs and Masques

Tips: Facial masques should always be applied to damp, freshly washed (and/or scrubbed) skin, and followed by the moisturizer or toner of your choice.

Basic Recipe
1 part organic powdered milk
2 parts oatmeal
1 part ground dried herbs (lavender, calendula, chamomile, rose, catnip, raspberry leaf, etc.)
essential oils of lavender, carrot seed, atlas cedar and/or chamomile

Directions:

In a clean coffee grinder, blend oatmeal until it becomes a coarse powder.
Blend large herbs separately, checking every few seconds to make sure they're not too fine - a few pulses should do it. If using chamomile, you may have to remove stems.
Mix dry ingredients and add essential oils a few drops at a time until you reach the desired scent, stirring frequently. Add sparingly.
Store in a small jar, tin, or baggie - if using essential oils, they will lose their scent more quickly if stored in plastic.

To Apply:
Mix one tablespoon dry ingredients with enough liquid to form a paste (see variations by skin type, below). For a scrub, rub gently into face and rinse. For a masque, let paste thicken for 1 minute, spread thinly onto face, let dry, and rinse.

Optional Exfoliating Additions for Scrubs:
ground almonds (don't grind them too fine, or you'll end up with almond butter!)
ground sunflower seeds (ditto)
cornmeal

Variations by Skin Type
For dry/aging skin: Apply with cream or milk. Don't use dried peppermint.
For oily skin: Add 1 part brewer’s yeast and/or 1 or 2 drops tea-tree oil. Apply with witch hazel, rosewater, or milk.
For sensitive skin: Apply with rosewater, water, or chamomile tea. Do not use cornmeal or peppermint leaf. Test on inner arm before using on face.

Again, have fun, let me know how they turn out, and consider treating yourself and your friends to a personalized class or Herbal Evenings Party - you'll love what you learn!

News and Notes from New England!

Welcome back!

Since blogs (like plants) do require occasional tending, I figured I'd drag myself inside long enough to post a few quick updates:

First and foremost, Blackbird's Daughter will be winging her way back to Vermont for the summer, and bringing with her more herbs and fun than you can say "yum!" to. 
In between farm-work and woods walks, I'll be mixing up batch after batch of sensuous beauty products, decadent teas and treats, and natural medicines - and spreading the seeds of health and joy with everyone who wants to get their hands dirty and their noses happy!

From Green Kids' Parties to "Make-Your-Own" Herbal Evenings to "Kitchen Witch 101" classes and custom consultations, Blackbird's Daughter has the perfect way to add some herbal love to your life. As always, special requests, custom blends, new customers, and curious friends are most welcome, so send an email to blackbirdsdaughter@gmail.com and we'll mix up some herbal magic!

Also, I've got a giant order of deliciously inspiring ingredients on the way from Mountain Rose Herb Company, including a variety of exotic clays, essential oils, soothing plant-butters, and nourishing herbs, so if you've been wondering "When is she going to update the products pages?", the answer is "As soon as I get my paws in those boxes!!" (I'm so excited, I feel like a kid at Christmas!)

The arrival of wisteria days and tree frog nights here in New England signals the start of summer, and with it, the end of another beautiful spring-season. For me, Spring is the time to wake up, stretch, and look around with wonder at the cascade of surrounding miracles - and then start dreaming out loud about how to play with them. It's also the time of year when everything seems to happen at a fast-forward pace; nature and life-in-general making up for all those dark and dormant months by packing in more growth and adventure and work than seems possible.
Some personal highlights from the past month include restoring the family Peace Garden in New Hampshire, digging quahogs in Maine (and turning them into "chowdah"), and sleeping out under the stars in the Hudson River Valley - and that doesn't even include returning from Mexico!

Can one tiny season possibly hold anything else? I don't think so, so although summer doesn't "officially" start until mid-June, I'm officially bidding a loving adios to the season of Birth and New Beginnings...

...and extending a gleeful welcome to the season of Growth and Hard Play! Looking forward to sharing the green love,

 Blackbird's Daughter

PS- Wondering where all of these happy greenwitch photos are coming from? They're all courtesy of Mr. Scott P. Yates over at I SPY Creations; thanks Scott!

White Oaks Adventures (Baton Rouge, LA)

A big "Thank You!" to Sarah, Keith, and the wonderful participants at the Herbal Seminar today, and to the fantastic White Oaks staff who made it all possible. I enjoyed meeting you all (though I suppose I should say "y'all" since I'm in Louisiana!) and spending the day talking, tasting, and sniffing our way through some of the many delicious holiday herbs.
Since several of you asked, here's my favorite Kahlua recipe:

Blackbird's Daughter Kahlua Liquor

3/4 cup organic cane sugar (such as Wholesome Sweeteners, Florida Crystals, etc.)
1/2 cup organic brown sugar (such as Wholesome Sweeteners, Florida Crystals, etc.)
2 cups strongly brewed fair-trade coffee (such as Equal Exchange, etc.)*
1/2 vanilla bean
2 cups vodka (80 proof or higher)
*or substitute 2 tablespoons instant coffee and 2 cups water

Directions:
Stir together sugars and coffee over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Slice open the vanilla bean and add it to the pot (Note: if the bean is too stiff, use a pair of scissors to cut it into small chunks instead). Add vodka, remove from heat, and cover until cooled - don't let that yummy booze evaporate!
Pour into clean jars or bottles, screw the lids on tight, and hide your proto-liquor somewhere cool and dark where you won't be tempted to "test" it every time you walk past. Leave it alone for at least a month, rebottle if desired, and give as gifts or enjoy it on the rocks, over ice cream, in a White Russian, etc.

Note: The longer this Kahlua sits, the better it gets. My parents still have half a bottle from the first batch I ever made; my mother guards it carefully, but if she lets you try it, you'll be amazed at how smooth the mouthfeel and taste have become.

Enjoy the recipe, and feel free to email me with herbal questions or recipes of your own at blackbirdsdaughter@gmail.com, or to talk about placing a special order or hosting an Herbal Evenings party while I'm here in Louisiana!